Faux Olive Garden Breadsticks

Once upon a time I was supposed to be grading Physiology Lab assignments, but decided to experiment instead. With what? (Because the title doesn't give it away) breadsticks. They came out of the oven and I about died. Not kidding.

Just tell me your mouth isn't watering.

Because I am just that awesome, here is the recipe. Keep in mind I just made this up, today. I have tried it once, and it may have just been a "hitting a bulls-eye on the first try" sort of thing. (I don't think so though)


Faux Olive Garden Breadsticks


Dough:
4.5 C. Flour (bread flour or all-purpose). You could also do 1/2 and 1/2 (wheat & white)
1.5 C warm water
1 pkg of active dry yeast or 2 1/4 tsp.
1 T Coconut milk (or milk of choice)
3 T Agave Nectar (or sweetener of choice) - divided
1 T melted butter (unsalted)
2 tsp garlic powder, or more. I eyeballed it, let's be honest.
1 tsp salt
2 tsp dried basil


Topping:
2-3 T melted butter OR Olive Oil
salt
garlic powder


Here is what you do:
1. Prep your yeast. Mix your 1.5 C of warm water (not hot, or else it will kill the poor little yeast) with yeast, and 1 of the Tablespoons of your sweetener of choice. Wait for it to get all bubbly, about 10-15 minutes.
2. Mix the dry ingredients and add the wet last (making the yeast the very last). Mix, and knead. (If you have a handy Kitchen Aid, use your dough hook)
3. Once your dough has formed a slightly (very slightly) sticky ball, let it rise until it doubles in size (about 1-1.5 hours)
4. Roll the dough into breadsticks, making them smaller than usual because they will rise again. I used a class baking dish and found it to work better than a metal cookie sheet (it made the bottom a little harder than the delicious, soft bottom). Cover and let rise for 45 minutes. Preheat oven to 400.
5. Before you put your rolls in the oven, sprinkle them with garlic powder, and basil. Bake for 10-12 minutes.
6. Before the breadsticks finish, melt the butter (if using EVOO, don't melt it:) and combine the salt and garlic. Once removed from the oven, quickly spread the topping on, and just eat one. So. Good.

When Your Sister Leaves Without You

This is my awesome little sister Layne: 

and today, she got her first college acceptance letter!

Because said little sister decided to be galavanting around the East Coast  on they day it came (and didn't take me with her), I got to open it. 

Congrats, Layne!  You got into Hofstra University in NY! 

PS-You also go a fatty scholarship. 

The Best Part

Last night as I was attempting to go to bed, I realized that there is a long list of things "they" (if anyone can tell me who they is, be my guest. Or as Flight of the Concords says, "Who's the man, I'm the man, you're the man. What makes a man a man?") failed to tell me before I tied the knot. 

One of my favorite things about being married is waking up to Robert playing with my hair. I had always been told that waking up to your best friend was one of the best parts of being married. Agreed. 

What they didn't tell me: The actual going to sleep part? Nigh impossible. Once Robert and I settle down, I realize that it is the first time in twenty-four hours that it is just Mr. husband and I. No distractions, no tasks to accomplish and nothing to do, but sleep. 

And so for the first time during the day, we actually talk. We talk about our day, and crazy dreams, and how I want to be an ambassador, and own a restaurant, and be a pilot, a nurse, nutritionist, and sociology professor, what country we want to live in next, and what fruit trees we want to grow. Then we cuddle, and then I realize that my poor husband is getting tired, so I do everything I can to annoy Robert so we can have a few extra minutes, a few extra minutes to talk before I fall asleep to the steady beat of husbands heart.  

picture via

 They say that the best part about being married is going through the hard times together, and knowing there is always someone to support you.

But for me,

this is the best part about being a wife, and the part of day I will always look forward to.

[ "When the layers subside

and the fortune is empty

the pigment of our days will echo pure

and I will be nowhere

if not with you" ]

-taken from a plate I found at Antropologie